Part II
The initiative has mobilized millions of Ethiopians from all walks of life, including government officials, community leaders, students, and ordinary citizens. This collective effort fosters a sense of national solidarity and cooperation, breaking down ethnic and social barriers.
Large-scale tree planting events bring together diverse groups, encouraging interaction and understandings among different ethnic communities, which can help reduce tensions and promote peace.
The shared objective of improving the environment provides a common purpose that transcends political, ethnic, and religious differences. Working towards a greener Ethiopia gives citizens a unifying mission, fostering national pride and collective identity. By focusing on environmental sustainability, the initiative redirects attention from divisive issues to constructive activities that benefit everyone.
Community-based tree planting activities encourage local cooperation and collective action. These activities help build trust and social networks, which are essential for maintaining peace and resolving conflicts at the grassroots level.
The initiative also supports local economies by providing job opportunities in tree nurseries and forestry management, which can alleviate poverty and reduce the socio-economic disparities that often fuel conflicts.
Environmental education programs associated with the Green Legacy Initiative promote awareness about the importance of sustainability and conservation. These programs often emphasize the shared responsibility of protecting the environment, reinforcing the idea of unity and collective action.
Ethiopia has a rich history of traditional environmental conservation mechanisms that have been practiced for centuries. These indigenous practices are deeply rooted in the cultural and social fabric of the communities and have played a significant role in preserving the country’s natural resources. Here are some of the key traditional environmental conservation mechanisms in Ethiopia:
Many Ethiopian communities have designated certain forests, groves, and trees as sacred. These areas are often associated with religious and spiritual beliefs and are protected from exploitation and deforestation. The Orthodox Christian Church, for instance, preserves church forests, which are patches of native forest surrounding churches and monasteries.
Ethiopian farmers have long practiced agroforestry, integrating trees and shrubs into their agricultural systems. This practice not only enhances biodiversity but also improves soil fertility, reduces erosion, and provides additional resources such as fodder, fruit, and firewood.
Indigenous methods such as terracing, stone bunds, and check dams have been used for centuries to control soil erosion and manage water resources. These structures help in retaining soil moisture, reducing runoff, and preventing land degradation. The Konso people of southern Ethiopia are renowned for their intricate terracing systems, which are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Traditional Ethiopian societies often manage natural resources communally. This involves community rules and regulations that govern the use of forests, grazing lands, and water sources. These rules are enforced by local elders and are aimed at sustainable resource use.
The Gada system of the Oromo people is a socio-political structure that includes environmental stewardship as one of its key components, promoting sustainable land and water management.
Indigenous irrigation techniques, such as floodwater farming and river diversion, have been developed to cope with the country’s varied climate. These methods are tailored to local conditions and help ensure water availability for crops during dry periods.
The Tigray region, for example, has a long history of using diversion weirs and canals to irrigate fields.
Pastoralist communities in Ethiopia have developed sustainable grazing practices that include rotational grazing and transhumance (seasonal movement of livestock). These practices help maintain the health of grazing lands and prevent overgrazing.
The Afar and Somali pastoralists are known for their adaptive strategies to manage scarce water and forage resources in arid and semi-arid regions.
Ethiopian farmers traditionally save seeds from their harvests for future planting, ensuring the preservation of local crop varieties. This practice maintains genetic diversity and resilience against pests and diseases.
Seed exchange networks within communities facilitate the sharing of diverse crop varieties, contributing to agricultural sustainability.
These traditional environmental conservation mechanisms are crucial for the sustainable management of Ethiopia’s natural resources. They are deeply embedded in the cultural and social systems of the communities and have been effective in preserving biodiversity and ensuring ecological balance. Integrating these indigenous practices with modern conservation techniques can provide a holistic approach to environmental sustainability in Ethiopia.
The above mentioned environmental protection schemes are all done both at community and national level and over time, they create a condition in which people long to meet each other on such occasions like tree planting national events under the auspices of the GLI. Under such circumstances people tend to avoid conflicts and work together for common objectives from which everyone will benefit either directly or indict.
The Green Legacy Initiative effectively helps to buttress the socio-economic, political and cultural development of Ethiopia in conformity with international standards of environment friendly economic development. Ethiopia has come a long way towards creating a new political order that is based on unity in diversity
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 4 JULY 2024
